The ominous octet of “S” in noncommunicable disease

Abstract Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) have surpassed the infectious disorders as the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. This is the first decade in the existence of humanity, where the prevalence of obesity has surpassed that of the malnutrition. Although the NCD rates have increased in developed countries, the mortality rates have reduced due to the effective management and prevention strategies. Similar trends are not seen in developing countries where the NCD-related mortality is on the rise. The risk factors for NCD are commonly encountered and require a lot of personal involvement to curb the rise. In this review, we shall discuss the common risk factors leading to the NCD and also suggest certain remedial measures. We propose the ominous octet of “S,” a constellation of risk factors starting with the letter “S,” leading to the NCD.